Electric socket device for vehicle lamps



F. G. WHITTINGTON.

ELECTRIC SOCKET DEVICE FOR VEHICLE LAMPS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 23. 1920.

1,41 1,947. Patented Apr. 4, 1922.

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INVENTOR By WM E ATTORNEYAS' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FBEDERIK G. WHITTINGTON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TOSTEWART-WARNER SPEEDOMETER CORP. OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OFVIRGINIA.

ELECTRIC SOCKET DEVICE FOR VEHICLE LAMPS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 4, 1922.

Original application filed December 5, 1919, Serial No. 342,586. Dividedand this application tiled J'une 23, 1920. Serial No. 391,129.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, F REDERIK G. VVHIT- TINGTON, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing in the city of Chicago, in the county of Cook and theState of Illinois, have in vented certain new and useful Improvements inElectric Socket Devices for Vehicle Lamps, of which the following is aspecification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forminga part thereof.

This application is a division of my application, Serial No. 342,586,filed December 5, 1919. The specific invention to which this applicationrelates is an improvement in electric socket devices for vehicle lamps.It consists in the elementsand features of construction shown anddescribed, as indicated in the claim.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a partly sectional plane view of a vehicle lamp equippedwith this invention, section being made axially with respect to thereflector stem and lamp socket.

Figure 2 is a section taken at the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the lamp socket tube in one position.

Figure 4 is a similar view in a position turned 180' degrees about itsaxis from the position of Figure 3.

In the construction shown in the drawings, 1 is the focusing reflectorof the lamp. It has a tubular stem, 2, which is provided with atelescopic end closure member, 3. Axially within this stem and closurethere is positioned the tubular lamp socket, 4, which, with respect toits mounting and wiring connections and lamp engagement, will now bedescribed. r

The tubular stem 2, is secured to the rear side of the reflector, 1, bymeans or" the flange, 2, and, as stated, the opposite end is closed bythe cup-shaped member, 3, telescoping within said tubular stem, 2, andserving as a carrier for the damp socket tube, 4. At its rear end, thelatter is formed with three lugs, 5, bent to extend transversely inwardand seat against the inner surface of the end wall, 3", of the closuremember, 3, adjacent to central opening in said end. A filler or bushing,6, is fitted within the end of the tube, .4, with its reduced portion,-,7, projecting between the other of the grooves,

lugs, 5, and through the central opening in said end of the closuremember, 3, and being clinched down upon the outer wall of said end topermanently unite the socket tube, 14, to said closure member, 3. Theopposite. end of socket tube, 4, is guided in a flange, 8, projectingfrom the base, 9, of the lamp bulb, 30. The lamp base is provided withcontact areas at its rear end, and these are connected into the electriccircuit through yielding contact members, 12 and 13, mounted on aninsulating member, 14, which is lodged in a pair of diametricallyopposite rectangular slots, 15, in the socket tube, 4, suitableconnection with electric current being provided by lead wires, 16 and17, one of which is connected directly in contact with the member, 12,while the other is secured under the nut of a bolt, 18, which ispositioned centrally in the insulating member, 14, with its head at therear side of said member, disposed for contact with a spring arm, 19,which is formed as an extension of the contact member, 13, and throughwhich the circuit is completed to the lamp. A push button, 20, isslidably mounted in the bore of the bushing or filler, 6, with aninsulating tip, 121, operatively engaging the spring contact arm, 19,clearance for movement of the latter being pro.- vided by an opening,22, in the socket tube, 4. The stem, 22, of the button, 20, is formedwith two parallel and closely adjacent grooves, 23 and 24, and aU-shaped member, 25, of spring wire accommodated in slots, 26, formed inthe bushing, 6, and in clearance apertures,'27, provided in the tube, 4,as shown 'in Figure 2, engages one or the 23 and 24, serving as a detentto hold the ush button at one or the other of its limiting positions.

Adjustment of the filament of the incandescent lamp, 30, to the focalcenter of the reflector, 1, is effected by sliding the closure member,3, of the tubular stem or neck, 2, longitudinally within said tubularstem, which moves the socket tube, 4, along the axis of said tube and ofthe tubular which is carried in the closure member, 3, and adapted tosecure the parts firmly at adjusted positions.

I cla1m:

A holder for an electric lamp bulb comprising an outer shell, having oneend open and a head at the other end centrally apertured; an inner tubeforming the lamp socket joined to said head about said aperture acontact-carrying block, said block and tube comprising means by whichthe block is slidabl mounted in said socket member with its en sprotrudingtherefrom at, opposite sides thereof; spring contact iecessecured to said protruding ends of t e block and extending forward andinward into the said socket member for contact with the lamp electrodes;a binding post carried by the the binding post, and means for holdingthe.

push button at contact making and breaking positions.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Chicago, Illinois,this 16 day of June, 1920;

FREDERIK G. WHITTINGTON.

